Promoting Research and Innovation in Methodologies for Evaluation | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Promoting Research and Innovation in Methodologies for Evaluation (PRIME) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity focused on improving how evaluations of STEM education and workforce development efforts are designed, conducted, and used. Rather than funding STEM programs directly, PRIME targets the evaluation field itself by supporting research that tests and advances new evaluation methods and frameworks. The central aim is to strengthen the ability of evaluators and researchers to determine what impacts STEM education projects and programs actually have, how useful evaluation findings are for decision-making, and how evaluation can better capture outcomes that matter to educators, learners, institutions, and funders.

A major emphasis of PRIME is methodological innovation. The program encourages investigators to explore and develop novel approaches for evaluating STEM education and workforce initiatives, including approaches that can more convincingly establish impacts, explain why outcomes occur, and illuminate the conditions under which programs succeed or fall short. PRIME also highlights the importance of building on and extending theoretical foundations for evaluation in STEM contexts, meaning it is not limited to technical measurement improvements but also welcomes work that clarifies underlying concepts, models, and assumptions that shape evaluation practice. Another key element is translation and adaptation: the program explicitly invites applicants to bring in promising evaluation methodologies from other disciplines or fields, then adapt and test them in STEM education and workforce development settings. In addition, PRIME seeks to grow the capacity and infrastructure of the evaluation community, signaling interest in work that helps develop shared tools, resources, data approaches, and knowledge-building mechanisms that can strengthen the broader evaluation ecosystem.

The program supports two proposal tracks. Exploratory Projects are intended for early-stage efforts such as proof-of-concept studies, piloting, and feasibility testing. These projects generally focus on trying out new ideas, assessing whether a method can work in a particular context, and generating evidence needed to justify a larger-scale effort. Full Scale Projects are designed for more extensive research and development, typically involving deeper testing, refinement, validation, broader application, or more comprehensive studies of innovative evaluation methodologies. Together, the two tracks create a pipeline from initial experimentation to mature, field-shaping work.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity offered under NSF’s Education and Human Resources area (CFDA 47.076). The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with an estimated total funding level of $6,000,000 and an expected 17 awards. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional clarifications in the full solicitation. The funding opportunity number is NSF 10-615 (also referenced as publication 10-615). The opportunity was posted on September 15, 2010, with a full proposal deadline of January 5, 2011 (the original and current closing dates both reflect January 5, 2011).

For access issues related to the electronic announcement, the listing provides a contact route through NSF’s grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, and points applicants to the NSF publication for the complete program guidance, requirements, and submission details.

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Previous opportunity: Limited Competition for the Global Research Initiative Program, Behavioral/Social Sciences (R01)

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